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15th May 1981
In the days when the Ormskirk line was still double track from Farington Curve Junction on the WCML to Midge Hall, a Newton Heath Cravens Class 105 Power-Twin, M50757 + M50815 was passing over Lodge Lane Crossing with an Ormskirk to Preston service on May 15th 1981. The foreground was the location of Moss Lane Junction , where a short double track section ran to Lostock Hall at the top of Farington Curve, once enabling trains to run direct from Liverpool and Ormskirk to East Lancashire. The junctions were taken out and the track lifted following rationalisation of the track layout/signalling in the Preston area at the time of preparation for electrification and resignalling in 1972. The well-worn former Up Line to Ormskirk formed of cast iron chairs and bullhead rail, was taken out of use in 1983 and has since been lifted. Martyn Hilbert.
5th June 1982
Coming out of a thunderstorm on a very murky day, a 10-Car DMU formation was climbing Farington Curve, heading for home with a Blackpool North to Leeds service on June 5th 1982. The leading set is a three-car Class 110 with E51820 leading. Behind the Calder Valley is a four-car Metro-Cammell Class 111, with a three-car Class 111 at the rear. The 110 units were daily visitors to Preston and Blackpool during the 1970's and the early 1980's on the daily Leeds-Blackpool North and return service that ran via Copy Pit and Blackburn. During weekdays a three-car set would suffice, but on Summer Saturdays the train would be formed of additional units as seen in this view. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd July 1985
A BRCW Class 104 two-car DMU formed of cars M53524 & M53451 was passing over Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled late afternoon Preston to Ormskirk service on July 23rd 1985. The Newton Heath allocated set was a reform, with M53524 still wearing its white bodyside stripe from the days when it was part of a Manchester-Blackpool 'White Line' three-car set that included cars M59180 & M50472. M53524 was the last Class 104 car to retain the white stripe in service. The Newton Heath fleet of 'White Line' three-car 104's were a common sight in the 1970's along the busy Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North route which carried heavy commuter and leisure traffic. Six-car formations were the norm for weekday peak-time services and weekend workings in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. Martyn Hilbert.
12th October 1985
A Class 120/108 four-car DMU working a Preston to Colne service, was climbing Farington Curve on October 12th 1985. The train was formed of a two-car Swindon Cross-Country Class 120, with Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M51577 leading, coupled to M51586, with a two-car Class 108 bringing up the rear. Buildings in Preston town centre are visible on the skyline, including the 309ft spire of St Walburges Church, visible above the rear car of the train. The wooden post and rail fence visible on the left centre of this scene, marks the course of the Preston - Ormskirk route running in a cutting. Martyn Hilbert.
16th May 1986
Accelerating along the Up Slow, a BRCW Class 104 two-car DMU formed of cars M53494 & M53468 was about to take the East Lancashire route at Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled Preston to Colne service on May 16th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd April 1987
Emerging from beneath Bee Lane bridge, a four car Class 104 with cars M53454 & M53528 leading, were approaching Farington Curve Junction with a Preston to Leeds service on April 23rd 1987. The bars on the droplights had been fitted due to restricted clearances in Holme Tunnel on the steeply-graded Copy Pit route. Martyn Hilbert.
3rd May 1987
Having taken the East Lancashire route at Farington Curve Junction, a two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53472 & M53500 was accelerating to climb the gradient to nearby Farington Curve, whilst working a Preston to Colne service on May 3rd 1987. Both cars were withdrawn in 1989 and subsequently scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.
4th May 1987
Having just passed under the bridge at Flag Lane, a tidy-looking two-car Class 108 formed of cars 54262 & 53955 was running along the last few yards of the Ormskirk route as it approached Farington Curve Junction whilst working the 11.10 Ormskirk to Blackpool South service on May 4th 1987. With the East Lancashire route in the foreground, a Class 104 DMU is visible through the left hand bridge span on a Colne to Preston working, waiting at signal PN522 for the 108 to clear the junction. Martyn Hilbert.
6th May 1987
Complete with retro Buxton style white cab roof sections, a two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53421 & M53487 was diverging from the Up Slow at Farington Curve Junction with the 18.00 Preston to Ormskirk service on May 6th 1987. Both cars were withdrawn from Newton Heath Depot in 1989 and scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.
6th May 1987
As a Class 86 was heading for London Euston on the Up Fast, a two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53421 & M53487 was joining the Down Slow at Farington Curve Junction with the 17.25 Ormskirk to Preston service on May 6th 1987. The unit was one of many first generation sets given an extended life due to the then ongoing issues with the Class 142 Pacer fleet. Martyn Hilbert.
11th June 1987
Set: BX492
With its Buxton depot set board in the offside front cab window and trademark white cab roof, a Derby Class 108 three-car DMU formed of cars M52050, M59389 & M51943 was passing signal PN57 on the Up Fast at Farington Curve Junction, whilst working a Heysham Harbour to Stockport limited stop service on July 11th 1987. Martyn Hilbert.
11th July 1987
A Metro-Cammell Two-Car Class 101 DMU formed of cars M53306 & M53325 was heading along the Up Slow and about to take the East Lancashire route at Farington Curve Junction, whilst working a Preston to Colne service on July 11th 1987. 101's were never common at Newton Heath, this particular set was transferred from Chester in 1986 and was transferred back to Chester in late 1987. The set was withdrawn in October 1989 and scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.
11th March 1989
With the Pennines as a distant backdrop, a four-car DMU formed of a Class 101/108 hybrid and a Class 108, was negotiating Farington Curve with a Preston to Colne service on March 11th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.
13th May 1989
Set: T414
A Tyseley allocated hybrid Class 116/127/115 4-Car Suburban DMU (T414 - 51144 + 59613 + 59661 + 51869), was running along the Up Fast at Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled returning excursion from Blackpool North on May 13th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.
18th August 1990
Set: CH347
In a view now blighted by unchecked tree growth and the planting of some conifers along the lineside, a Met/Cam Class 101 three-car DMU was climbing Farington Curve, making a rare appearance, working the 14.05 Blackpool South to Colne service on August 18th 1990. Formed of DMBS 53294, TS 59303 and DMBS 53216 the unit was a Chester set (CH347) and may have been borrowed by Newton Heath, as this was the period when the Class 142 fleet was ailing, and with many examples stored, all sorts of first generation DMU's were having an extended period of operation to keep things going. Martyn Hilbert.
15th August 1992
Set: LO612
Complete with a Red Dragon on its cab front, a legacy from its brief sojourn in South Wales operating from Landore Depot during 1991, a Class 108 two-car Derby Lightweight DMU formed of cars 51937 & 52053 was climbing Farington Curve with the 08.31 Preston to Clitheroe service on August 15th 1992. A month after this image was recorded the unit was converted to a departmental Sandite unit. 51937 has survived into preservation at the Poulton & Wyre Railway. Martyn Hilbert.
29th August 1992
Set: LO290
Seeing out its final stint of operation before withdrawal, and having an extended life due to errant Class 142's, a Longsight allocated Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M53987 & M54270 (LO290), was climbing Farington Curve with the 08.31 Preston to Colne service on August 29th 1992. The DMBS M53987 was officially stored in December 1992 and finally withdrawn in January 1993. The trailer M54270 went on to be paired with a Class 101 DMBS (M53291) and was not withdrawn until June 1993. Following withdrawal, both M53987 & M54270 passed into preservation. M54270 is now at the Mid Norfolk Railway, whilst M53987 went to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley, where it was used for spare parts and was eventually scrapped in 1998. Martyn Hilbert.
Page 1 of 1, displaying 1-17 of 17 images